One of the coolest things about New Mexico is the art community, and the art you see all day every day on people's mailboxes, front doors, gardens, everywhere. It's just part of the culture to decorate the landscape.
In New Mexico, it takes many forms - lizards, kachinas, sun symbols, bear paws, statues of St. Francis - you name it.
My yard contains a few little decorations. A metal agave plant, a metal peacock my mom got me, and a little metal sculpture of cattails that's verdigris.
But my neighbor has a much beloved gnome.
He's a bit of a cult figure. He gets moved around her gorgeous, native plant front yard on the regular.
My mom has gnomes too, and she recently told me she wanted to paint them, so I'm looking forward to that. If anyone knows the best paint for a concrete gnome, please let me know.
I love all of the myths of the garden - gnomes, fairies and sprites. They were the things of my childhood stories, and they're still dear to me.
So whenever I find a stamp that feeds that part of me, I buy it.
Recently, I searched gnome stamp and found this amazing image. It's from a company in the UK that's new to me, and they make bigger cards over there, so the images are nice and large - a must for me when I find something I want to watercolor. They call him a goblin, but he looks gnomey to me. (If you are in the UK, I have a UK retailer linked here and in the list below.)
This image is so sweet in all its detail - the mushrooms and critters, the little angel wing on the gnome, the terracotta pot that is such a part of my daily joy when I water my beloved plants.
I could not resist. So I stamped it in Nocturne on Fabriano, and watercolored it with Daniel Smith. I added the white details with my porous point white paint marker with a super fine tip. Hard to see here, but the beard and angel wings are sparkly - I painted them with glitter gloss.
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What are your favorite mythical images? Leave me a comment!
Loveyameanitbye.
I've painted several concrete pieces. Be sure they
ReplyDeleteare clean and as much of the old paint is off (if they
are painted already). I prime them with acrylic
white paint and then paint with acrylic paints.
when the piece is dry, spray it with the Krylon
sealant (I'd have to go look at the can to be
exact - let me know if you need that). I
have pieces that I painted 20 years or more ago
and they are still vibrant. They have been
out in all kinds of weather.
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Your work is incredible
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, Lydia. I love this card and each and every detail - especially the acorn in his hand since acorns make me think of fall which has suddenly swallowed us up here in MN. (I just had to put socks on because my toes are freezing!) While I hate winter socks... I love the nip of fall air when it requires socks because my windows are wide open.
ReplyDeleteThank you for continuing to blog and share your stories. They bring me joy,even on my toughest days. XO Meg
Lydia, I love your little gnome in a pot! All the details and your painting is wonderful. I was looking at that company's stamps on SSS yesterday. They are so different then the norm we usually see. I'll have to decide which one I want. The giraffe with the glasses on is so adorable.
ReplyDelete